The finalists for the fifth season of BET’s “Sunday Best” were named Sunday, August 19th in a show that featured the Clark Sisters and wonderful performances by all the contestants. Alexis Spight and Joshua Rogers are the final two and will compete in the season finale. Danetra Moore and Michael Lampkin ended their time on the show as they were eliminated during this round of competition.

The Clark Sisters opened the show and performed a medley of several of their hits, including “Living” and “Blessed & Highly Favored,” “Is My Living In Vain” and “You Brought The Sunshine.” Kierra Sheard performed “Indescribable” later in the show. Contestant performances included Danetra Moore singing “Jesus Will Work It Out,” Michael Lampkin with “Awesome God,” Alexis Spight with “Calvary” and Joshua Rogers with an outstanding rendition of Deitrick Haddon’ s “Well Done.”

The winner of “Sunday Best” will receive a 2013 Ford Escape, a cash prize and a national recording contract with Music World Gospel. Viewers will select the “Sunday Best” winner next week when the show airs on BET. Check your local listings for times.

Today is the day! Anthony Brown & group therAPy release their debut self-titled album today to critical and consumer acclaim. Anthony Brown who is well known as the behind-the-scenes songwriter, producer and vocal arranger celebrated last night at a release party at his home church, First Baptist Church of Glen Arden.

Anthony Brown performed to a packed house that was filled with fans, supporters and fellow gospel artists, including Donald Lawrence, Kim Burrell, Sheri Jones Moffett, Byron Cage, Richard Smallwood, Stephen Hurd, Maurette Brown Clark and VaShawn Mitchell. Local industry heavyweights Ron Thompson and Cheryl Jackson from Praise 104.1 came out to support.

What was described as an awesome production and spirit filled evening, Anthony Brown & group therAPy presented songs off the new album showcasing their truly dynamic and superb vocal talents and unrivaled harmonies. Social networks were a buzz last night with several in attendance tweeting about about how the extraordinary performance.  Donald Lawrence tweeted “really wish you guys could hear the singing n musicality going on at this release concert PHENOMENAL  … some of the best diverse singing.” 

Anthony Brown & group therAPy’s first single, “Testimony,” has been making waves since it hit radio a few months ago. Anthony Brown and group therAPy shine on this smash single which is in the top 20 on Billboard’s gospel singles chart and continues to rise. .   Also, in its first day of releaseAnthony Brown & group therAPy is already trending at Number 3 on iTunes Christian/Gospel albums chart.

Anthony Brown, along with his vocal ensemble, group therAPy‘seponymous CD offers contemporary gospel alongside praise & worship tunes with flawless vocals and melodies. Gospelpundit.com has described the CD as “so refreshing, so diverse, and so excellent,” and Root Magazine called it “a breath of fresh air.” The Gospel According To Torrence said “Anthony Brown and group therAPy bring a new and needed level of class and precision to modern gospel.”

Anthony Brown will be hitting the road to support the release with appearances in New York, Philadelphia, Virginia and Atlanta. They will perform this weekend at Pastor Donnie McClurkin’s annual NY CALL in Eisenhower Park in Long Island, NY and at VaShawn Mitchell’s album release party at the Baptist Worship Center in Philadelphia.

Well known to many as a prolific songwriter and vocal producer, Anthony Brown has several production and writing credits under his belt. He wasresponsible for penning Maurette Brown-Clark’s number 1 hit “It Ain’t Over”among others.  

Anthony Brown & group therAPy is in stores now and available at iTunes, Walmart, Best Buy, Amazon.com, Family Christian Stores and many more of your favorite brick & mortar as well as all on-line digital retailers.   

Anthony Brown currently serves as Assistant Minister of Music at First Baptist Church of Glen Arden under Pastor John K. Jenkins.  

The long awaited Light for the Lost Boy fall tour with Andrew Peterson and full band, featuring opening act Caleb, will launch in Nashville, TN on September 21st  and will end in Birmingham, AL October 24^th.   Opening night will be the album release party for Peterson’s new project, Light for the Lost Boy, and will be in conjunction with the third annual Rabbit Room conference, Hutchmoot, an event which sold out in seven minutes. The remaining tickets, however, are open to the public and are available at www.rabbitroom.com.  Tickets for the entire tour are available at each venue and more information is available at www.andrew-peterson.com.

Peterson hitting the road with a full band will be a treat for audiences, as he usually performs his shows acoustically with long-time bandmates and writing partners Ben Shive and Andy Gullahorn. For this tour they’ll be joined by the three members of the opening act, Caleb.  

“Much like the Behold the Lamb of God record,” Peterson said, “these songs seem to want more instrumentation than just me and a guitar. While we were recording the album I kept asking myself how Ben, Andy, and I were going to perform the songs live—then when the guys in CALEB agreed to do the tour I got really excited. They’re a great band. I can’t wait for folks to hear their songs—and I can’t wait to play my songs with them.”

He met the group while on tour with Steven Curtis Chapman last fall and then again this past spring.  Caleb is comprised of two of Chapman’s sons, Caleb (lead vocals/guitar) and Will (drums), along with Scott Mills (guitar/vocal/keys/bass).  Peterson became a big fan of their music and even had Will Chapman play drums on Light for the Lost Boy. 

For tour updates please visit www.andrew-peterson.com, and Hutchmoot information is available online at www.hutchmoot.com.

About Andrew Peterson

Andrew Peterson is a man of many talents with a successful recording and songwriting career, as well as being an award-winning author and the host of a highly popular online creative community known as the Rabbit Room (www.RabbitRoom.com). Peterson will be releasing his new album, Light for the Lost Boy on August 28, 2012.  His previous project, Counting Stars, debuted at #1 on iTunes, and #6 on Billboard. His single “Dancing in the Minefields” reached the Top 10 on the Christian AC chart, while the video for the song has received a million views online. Peterson is currently working on his fourth and final book in the Wingfeather Saga series that releases in early 2013. Book two won the 2010 Christy Award for Young Adult Fiction.  In September, Peterson will host Hutchmoot, the third annual Rabbit Room conference for lovers of art, songs, and stories—an event that sold out in seven minutes!  Peterson appeared on the spring and fall legs of the Steven Curtis Chapman Songs & Stories Tour and in December will embark on his 13th annual Christmas tour, Behold the Lamb of God.

About Caleb

The band is made up of popular Christian singer Steven Curtis Chapman’s sons, Caleb and Will Chapman, along with Scott Mills. Caleb released their debut 7-song EP in November 2011, “To The Ends of The World,” which JesusFreakHideout.com calls, “hands down the best indie release in a long time.”  Caleb and Will Chapman explain the concept behind the album.  “The Idea was to tell the story of the last three years of our lives (the good, the bad, and the ugly), and that there is a Love that stretches to the ends of the world and beyond for us no matter how hard life gets.” 

GMC TV presents “Somebody’s Child” starring NAACP Image Award nominee Michael Jai White (“Why Did I Get Married Too,” “We The Party”), Emmy Award winner Lynn Whitfield (“The Josephine Baker Story,” “Eve’s Bayou”), and Byron Minns (“Undisputed”) in a powerful drama of a family united.

Based on Siddeeqah Powell’s original screenplay “Somebody’s Child” makes its world television premiere on Saturday, August 25 at 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 26 at 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 p.m., with an encore presentation on Monday, September 10 at 9:00 p.m.

A divine twist of fate causes Constance Rivers, played by Whitfield, and her son Douglas (White) to open their hearts to an ex-convict, Benjamin Sparks (Byron Minns). While on the brink of losing her battle with kidney failure, Constance’s near death confession instantly collides her past with her present, revealing Douglas and Benjamin are fraternal twin brothers who were separated at birth 37 years ago. Shocked, confused and on the verge of losing their mother, the two men must work to develop a bond of brotherhood that will last a lifetime and give their mother peace.

“We discovered Somebody’s Child as a finalist in the American Black Film Festival’s (ABFF) 2011 GMC Faith and Family Screenplay Competition,” explains Brad Siegel, vice-chairman of GMC. “Our goal was to find strong and unique stories that would resonate with African-American families.  We wanted to encourage the creative community to tell stories where faith and family could be organic to any type of story.  It didn’t have to be church based.”

“Somebody’s Child is an emotionally rewarding family story that demonstrates the true power of faith, love and forgiveness,” adds Leslie Chesloff, GMC’s executive vice president of programming. “We are very pleased to be able to present this to our GMC family of viewers.”

Deon Kipping is a name commonly seen in songwriting credits, but his singing gift is now front and center with the release of I JUST WANT TO HEAR YOU – his first project on Verity Gospel Music Group.

The 12 track CD offers a fusion of pop, alternative, contemporary, and traditional Gospel sounds – representing the uniquely diverse musical styles in Deon’s repertoire, as he wrote and produced the project. “I wanted to do a project that was eclectic enough to keep you interested, but not so much that you don’t get it,” says Kipping. “There really is something for everyone on this CD, because my musical influences are so broad.”

The current single, “What’s Coming Is What’s Better” is a reassuring mid-tempo track that will build listeners’ faith and confidence in God’s promises for their lives; drawing you in with lush piano chords and lyrics that immediately make you want to hear the song in its entirety: “I see you crying/and you’re about to lose control/but you can’t give up/just because your future’s not worth letting go/let go frustration/soon it will all come to an end/just endure what you’re going through/what’s coming is what’s better than it’s been…” Watch the lyric video below.

“Prisoner of Christ” is infused with an edgy pop/alternative sound while “Never Cease” is a contemporary praise and worship anthem, and the title track is a soulful mid-tempo song with beautiful horn arrangements and a message that speaks to a believer’s desire to experience God in the most intimate way.

“After hearing this CD, I simply want listeners’ levels of faith to be elevated in such a way that God is amazed at their faith,” says Kipping. “I don’t want people to just like the songs, I want people to listen and say ‘I just want to believe more.’”

Deon Kipping is an accomplished songwriter who has written for Marvin Sapp; J.J. Hairston and Youthful Praise; Byron Cage; Rance Allen and more. He won the ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Award for “Praise Him In Advance,” recorded by Marvin Sapp.

Music World Gospel announced this week that they have released Trin-i-tee 5:7 from the label.

The split comes as a surprise to many, because of the groups marketability.  Music World Gospel CEO Mathew Knowles had this to say about the split.

“Angel and Chanelle scored their first Grammy Nomination as well as Grammy night worldwide TV performance Grammy Nomination with Music World. Their careers will always be linked to Music World. We will miss them and wish them the best of luck.”

In turn, duo members Angel Taylor and Chanelle Haynes said: “We thank Music World and Mathew Knowles for everything they have done for us.”

At least one news outlet claims that the pair told them in a recent interview that they will pursue solo careers for the time being.  Angel and Chanelle have yet to confirm that in a official statement.

This marks the second artist who has left Mathew Knowles’ label since he was banned from Radio One music stations.  Earlier this year Micah Stampley left.  

The contract dispute between Radio One and Knowles, caused all artists under Knowles’ label to loose radio air time indefinitely.  There is no word on whether this played a part in the Trin-i-Tee 5:7 split, as the details surrounding it are vague.

Even with the radio ban Knowles has managed to turn out Top 10 CD releases, focusing on A.M. radio and internet portals.  Knowles’ impressive client roster still includes Le’Andria Johnson, Amber Bullock, Brian Courtney Wilson, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and Andrea Helms among others.  

Knowles’ current agreement with BET allows him first-look at signing the winners of the hit show Sunday Best.  For the time being this insures that Knowles will be able to get fresh and marketable talent into the Music World Gospel label.  

Mike Chandler is one of those quiet radio legends. Long before he acquired the Virginia Beach-based Rejoice Musical Soulfood network of 38 gospel radio stations, he was a trained engineer with NASA and has worked in both television and radio for 33 years. Now, some of the top artists in gospel are coming together to celebrate Chandler’s 33 years in the radio industry and to also commemorate the tenth anniversary of Rejoice.

“What a lot of people don’t know is that Mike is a skilled engineer who can build a radio station from the ground up but you wouldn’t know it because he’s so humble and approachable,” says April Washington, CEO of Habakkuk Music, one of the top gospel music labels in the USA. Washington has shown her appreciation by enlisting her two biggest acts to perform on the anniversary concert, the legendary Lisa Page Brooks (best known for her 2009 #1 smash “I Want to Say Thank You”) and the hot young group, Gerald Scott & Co., which is burning up the charts with its hit, “Alright.” The program also features Byron Cage, David & Tamela Mann and the Virginia Aires quartet. All tickets are $25 for the concert taking place Saturday, September 1 @ 5 pm at Elizabeth City State University’s ECSU Fine Arts Auditorium.

Chandler’s radio career began in 1979 when he was an engineering student at Florida State University where he also had his own WFSU TV show, “Black Expressions.” At the time, NASA was under fire to employ more black engineers so they went to FSU in pursuit of gifted students with strong math or science skills. “I always loved math and science,” he says. After his morning college classes, he spent his afternoons getting his NASA training and finished his evenings by buying airtime and hosting a 7-9 p.m. R&B radio show on KRT 1350 AM, a country station, in Coco Beach. “We were playing Barry White and Al Green, “ he laughs. “I know it made those country music lovers throw up.”

Chandler stayed with NASA until the Challenger space shuttle explosion in 1986 when the agency laid off 1,100 employees after the disaster. He moved to Jacksonville where he worked the 3-7 pm drive at WPDQ (an R&B station) and then walked across the street each night and did the 11 o’clock news at the ABC TV affiliate. One day the owner of WPDQ, Bishop Levi E. Willis, came to check on the station and encountered Chandler. “He had a vision of developing a national gospel radio network,” he remembers. “When he learned that I had engineering experience he asked if I could help him build his network so he moved me to Norfolk. When I got there he had 8 stations and when I left in 1996 he had 72.” Chandler then made a ransom of money in the cell phone industry before buying Rejoice Musical Soulfood from ABC Radio Networks n 2006. Now, the network is 38 stations strong and one of the major power players in the gospel world.

Top selling Gospel artist Kirk Franklin has signed his first group, The Walls Group to his label Fo Yo Soul Entertainment.

Raised in the Lonestar state of Houston, Texas, The Walls Group is made up of four siblings Ahjah – 14, Paco – 15, Rhea – 16, and Darrell – 21.

The Walls Group was sought after by virtually every big record label in the business. With their current single “Mighty You Are” making waves at radio.

An excited Kirk Franklin had this to say about the signing, “When I first saw a video of The Walls Group, I knew they were something special,” Franklin said. “I was truly blown away by their vocal abilities at such young ages.  And when I flew down to Houston to meet them, I couldn’t believe how down to earth and humble they were.  I truly saw something unique in this group and I’m excited to start this new journey with The Walls.”


PATH reached out to the groups’ father and manager Roger Walls known to many as “Pop Walls” who had this to say, “What can you say about Kirk? We’ll be the first ones on his label, so all the focus will be on the kids.”

Kirk plans to officially announce the group at one of the stops on the Kings Men Tour, and the group will began recording their new project at the end of October.

Initially hesitant to sign with a label, Pop Walls is glad he made the decision to sign. “After Three years of CD release parties and slow progression, everything is now happening instantly,” explains Walls.

Pop Walls will retain his role managing the group along with Kirk Franklin’s imprint.

The Walls Group’s sophomore album is due out in 2013. Their current self-titled album is available online now.

Before The Walls Group took shape they were making headlines in their home city of Houston as “The Walls Kidz,” and the world would be slowly exposed to their undeniable talents by various social networks. Their YouTube channel has developed a devoted following recording over 4 million channel views, and at the beginning of the year their rendition of Kirk Franklin’s song “The Appeal” earned the group over 100,000 views in just a few weeks.

The Walls Group sound is a mixture of worship, contemporary Gospel, urban pop, and down home church. Their youthful voices stand toe to toe with some of the leading gospel artist out today. Their Influences include Kim Burrell, Kiki Sheard, Mary Mary, The Soul Seekers, and Dorinda Clark-Cole. Visit the Walls Group at www.thewallsgroup.org. Twitter @TheWallsGroup and Facebook at facebook.com/Wall2WallEntertainment

Five-Time Grammy-Award winner and multi-platinum selling artist TobyMac will release his fifth solo studio project, EYE ON IT on August 28. To kick-off the release, TobyMac will make his national television debut of the project’s latest single, “Me Without You” on the hit cable morning show, FOX & FRIENDS live on Saturday, August 25. The pre-sale for EYE ON IT is now live at multiple music retailers including iTunes, Family Christian Stores, Lifeway Christian Stores and Amazon. In support of EYE ON IT, TobyMac will be hosting promotional events in conjunction with key radio stations in select markets.

Along with TobyMac’s first three solo projects, his 2009 release, TONIGHT, was recently certified Gold by the R.I.A.A. Written by TobyMac and David Garcia, “Me Without You” is the first track to be released from the five-time Grammy award winner’s upcoming album. The 12-track project, EYE ON IT, pulls from TobyMac’s personal influences with songs “Made For You” and “Family” as well as a nod to his ascension into music with “Thankful For You.” EYE ON IT features musical guests from reigning New Artist of the Year Jamie Grace (“Favorite Song”), Blanca from Group1Crew (“UnStoppable”) and Lecrae (“Forgiveness”).

“I want my music to depict what I’m going through. I want to write about the things that upset me, move me, hurt me and haunt me. The things that are real,” says TobyMac. “With TONIGHT, I was determined to live more passionately with God. I was laying down the gauntlet. EYE ON IT is a continuation of that. It’s saying, ‘This is the person I want to be and I’m going to keep my eye on it, God willing!'”

This fall, TobyMac is set to headline the Winter Jam West Coast Tour and his own “EYE ON IT” tour with Jamie Grace and Chris August and the “HITS DEEP” tour. The “HITS DEEP” tour features TobyMac and friends Chris August, Jamie Grace, Group1Crew, Brandon Heath, Mandisa and Britt Nicole as they perform some of their hit songs in an exciting night of music. For more information on his upcoming schedule, visit http://www.tobymac.com/tour/.

Track Listing for EYE ON IT:
1 Me Without You
2 Steal My Show
3 Eye On It
4 Forgiveness (feat. Lecrae)
5 Speak Life
6 UnStoppable (feat. Blanca of Group1Crew)
7 Lose Myself
8 Family
9 Thankful For You
10 Made For Me
11 Mac Daddy (Tru’s Reality)
12 Favorite Song (feat. Jamie Grace) 

Deluxe Bonus:
13. Me Without You (Capital Kings Remix)
14. Steal My Show (Jack Shocklee Remix)
15. Lose Myself (Capital Kings Remix)
16. Family (Jamie Moore Remix)
17. LoudNClear Tru (Telemitry Remix)
18. Me Without You (Telemitry Remix)

*Tracks 13-18 are only available on the Deluxe Edition of the album

About TobyMac:
With over 11 million units in career sales, each of TobyMac’s four solo projects have received RIAA Gold certification and his live DVD, Alive & Transported, is certified platinum by the RIAA and received a GRAMMY® award. In 2012 the much-celebrated and acclaimed artist celebrated his eighth consecutive GRAMMY® nomination, this time for his songwriting contribution to rising star (and recording artist on his label, Gotee Records) Jamie Grace’s No. 1 hit “Hold Me.” His latest album Tonight received GRAMMY nods for “Best Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album” and “Best Contemporary Christian Song” with “City On Our Knees” the track that topped the sales and radio charts faster than any of his previous singles, spending 8 weeks at No. 1 on the Christian Audience Chart. Tonight also garnered him the highest sales debut of his solo career with over 78,000 units and a No. 6 Billboard Top 200 debut. The album was also named as iTunes® Best Christian Album of 2010 and recently took home the Dove Award for “Best Rock Contemporary Album of the Year.”

Along with sold out tour dates, back-to-back radio hits and being named the GMA Dove Award’s 2008 “Artist of the Year,” he was also nominated for “Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist” at the 2010 American Music Awards and was up for three Billboard Music Awards in 2011 including “Top Christian Artist.” The hit song “Tonight” was also chosen as the theme song for MLB’s 30 Clubs in 30 Days Spring Training Series and featured on the Golf Channel. Additionally, his music has been heard in major motion pictures such as “Hancock,” “TRANSPORTER 2,” while also being featured on Fox sports, The NFL network, being selected as the theme song for Fox College Football and WWE’s Fatal 4-Way Pay-Per-View. “Showstopper,” from the chart-topping album Tonight, was featured in ESPN’s ESPY Award Show and used to launch the last season of CBS hit television show CSI: NY.